Loving Amy: A Mother's Story

Amy Jade Winehouse (1983–2011) was, according to her mother, a strong-willed child with a penchant for attention and thrill-seeking behavior. She is often described as oscillating between petulant and pleasant, the embodiment of extremes that could neither be chalked up to a childhood/teenage phase, nor to the addictions that would come to frame her career. This is Janis's reflection on Amy's rise to stardom and the path she took to get there. It is a revealing memoir chronicling Amy's troubles with school, her home life, and relationships. Winehouse reflects on several moments in Amy's life (tantrums, poor grades/interpersonal relationships, impulsivity) that may lead readers to question whether something more is at play then a simple test of will. Like the life of her daughter, Janis's story manages to be both intimate and detached. A recurring theme throughout the narrative is acceptance of "Amy as she was," yet questions about whether more could have or should have been done are certain to arise. The book is a roller coaster of highs and lows that will have readers wishing for a different outcome than Amy's untimely death at age 28.